The BioWare Blog announces BioWare founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk are retiring from the company they co-founded in 1995 and sold to Electronic Arts in 2007. They offer a message from Ray Muzyka and one from Greg Zeschuk as well as one from Aaryn Flynn, the General Manager of BioWare Edmonton and Montreal, who discusses what this means for the future, including word on a new IP:

Both Dragon Age and Mass Effect started as single games but grew into vast universes. But we aren’t stopping there. While Casey continues to oversee the development of our new Mass Effect project, he and his leads are putting together their vision for an all new game set in a fictional universe, built from the bottom-up with all new gaming technology.

Wow, this IS the end of an era. Their (Ray/Greg) importance in the gaming industry cannot be denied. Well done guys, and good luck in your new endeavours. A new chapter is upon us people... I am putting all my faith in the indie developers. This is but a natural way of all things. Out with the old, in with the new. I cannot wait. isn't it exciting!

The economy can only go up from here... innovative gaming ideas are going to explode in the next few years. But looking back, wow. In 20 years the gaming industry has overtaken the movie industry as entertainment platform. I cannot wait to see what free thinking, creative people are going to come up with next. Ain't it great to be alive in 2012? Bring it on!

Dragon Age was very meh IMO. Twasn't at all impressed with it and even less so with the second one - though I did like the Arishock or whatever they were called. KOTOR I din't care for, but then again I've always thought that Star Wars was horrible tripe anyway. And Mass Effect just more the same schlock.

Personal tastes aside, many Baldur's Gate fans felt Dragon Age was a return to form of sorts for Bioware. Dragon Age 2 sucked ass by comparison, but Dragon Age was every bit a PC RPG.

Yeah agreed. Dragon Age: Origins had its rough spots to be sure but it was a fantastic return to roots while updating many outdated elements of traditional CRPGs.

Bioware sold out a long time ago, and made a ton of money for it. Neither of these founders are contractually obligated to stick around and have jumped the proverbial burning ship.

Hopefully they are satisfied with the amount they made and go on to create something that is true to their creative sides, without the temptation to cash in quick again.

jdreyer wrote on Sep 18, 2012, 19:41:I expect the franchises to continue but the soul to be lost.

Have you played any of their recent titles? IMO it's just been more formulaic garbage with the primary intent being a revenue stream for EA, not simply "lets make great games", which is what they were once known for.

JJust read the farewell messages from both Greg an Ray. Sounds like Ray is going to go the philanthropic Bill Gates route while Greg is going to brew beer. Both noble pursuits and i can't wait to see how they turn out.

"The worst of it all is i used to ENJOY getting excited for big titles like this, but these publishers just keep ruining my love for this wonderful hobby with their endless fuckery." - Sempai

NewMaxx wrote on Sep 18, 2012, 20:27:I predict a kickstarter by these guys once their non-compete clauses run out (industry standard is 1 year minimum).

This. Kickstarter! Kickstarter! Kickstarter! Would anyone be surprised if these guys didn't have non compete clauses? When bioware was bought these guys were rockstars, maybe completing the last few products left them free and clear.

Bioware is done in my opinion. Franchises will be c&c'd to death.

I wouldn't be surprised if in an attempt to get back to their roots they head over to Oblivion to work on their Project Eternity kickstarter.

Dragon Age was very meh IMO. Twasn't at all impressed with it and even less so with the second one - though I did like the Arishock or whatever they were called. KOTOR I din't care for, but then again I've always thought that Star Wars was horrible tripe anyway. And Mass Effect just more the same schlock.

Personal tastes aside, many Baldur's Gate fans felt Dragon Age was a return to form of sorts for Bioware. Dragon Age 2 sucked ass by comparison, but Dragon Age was every bit a PC RPG.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” - Mahatma Gandhi

Tumbler wrote on Sep 18, 2012, 20:59:This. Kickstarter! Kickstarter! Kickstarter! Would anyone be surprised if these guys didn't have non compete clauses? When bioware was bought these guys were rockstars, maybe completing the last few products left them free and clear.

EA has been known to ignore and work around their competitors' non-compete clauses (see: Ubisoft vs. EA, 2006), which makes it more likely that they make their own ones ironclad and standard.

RaZ0r! wrote on Sep 18, 2012, 19:34:Neverwinter Nights was their peak, the rest has been their decline.

Spot on. They were done after NWN, so circa 2003/4 is when Bioware really ended.

Dragon Age is enough like their older games that I think it's hard to discount completely if you're looking for a timeline. It's almost a modern-day Baldur's Gate with their own license. The first at least, the second not so much.

Dragon Age was very meh IMO. Twasn't at all impressed with it and even less so with the second one - though I did like the Arishock or whatever they were called. KOTOR I din't care for, but then again I've always thought that Star Wars was horrible tripe anyway. And Mass Effect just more the same schlock.

"We choose the right to be who we are. We know the difference between the reality of freedom and the illusion of freedom."

RaZ0r! wrote on Sep 18, 2012, 19:34:Neverwinter Nights was their peak, the rest has been their decline.

Spot on. They were done after NWN, so circa 2003/4 is when Bioware really ended.

Dragon Age is enough like their older games that I think it's hard to discount completely if you're looking for a timeline. It's almost a modern-day Baldur's Gate with their own license. The first at least, the second not so much.

xXBatmanXx wrote on Sep 18, 2012, 20:41:So I have retired 5 times, since I have switched jobs to a different career? nope.

Yes, particularly if it was your own business that you retired from like it was in this case or if you're giving up a certain field (retiring from gaming, which is I think is exactly how they describe it in their announcements).

They are retiring from Bioware and the gaming industry. That doesn't mean or suggest they are never to work again anywhere else, ever, and will instead while away the hours fishing on a yacht named for an old girlfriend and drinking overpriced coronas purchased from a aging marijuana smoking Jimmy Buffett fan who never seems to leave the pier at the marina.

NewMaxx wrote on Sep 18, 2012, 20:27:I predict a kickstarter by these guys once their non-compete clauses run out (industry standard is 1 year minimum).

This. Kickstarter! Kickstarter! Kickstarter! Would anyone be surprised if these guys didn't have non compete clauses? When bioware was bought these guys were rockstars, maybe completing the last few products left them free and clear.

I'm sure Ray and Greg made out very well in the transaction to EA. Sadly, BioWare is surely doomed now. Well, maybe if Ray and Greg are moving on to start a new company we can finally get the new shit!